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Dunkirk Airport hangar leases will all be under one "roof," both literally and figuratively.
According to Ron Almeter, County Airports and Parks manager, a majority of the hangar leases are already under the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation. CREDC is temporarily providing Fixed Based Operator services until July 31 for the airport after Dunkirk Aviation ceased providing FBO services.
However, Hangar 8 is currently sublet to Dunkirk Aviation. Almeter said the company was informed of the desire to consolidate the leases, and has agreed. The process should be complete in February.
Almeter said the transition of services to CREDC as acting FBO has been successful. In the near future, CREDC will obtain a license to be an outlet for Hertz Car Rentals, which should occur in February as well.
As it stands, there are 30 aircrafts based in the hangars at Dunkirk Airport, which are owned by at least 20 different owners, Almeter said. When the transition occurred between Dunkirk Aviation and CREDC as FBO, there was a slight decrease. Almeter said that has "bounced back."
The airport can house about 42 aircrafts all together.
"The Dunkirk Airport as a business entity is a fairly healthy one," Almeter said. "We're very optimistic about the future of the airport."
When it comes to finding a new FBO, Almeter said the next step is to put out a solicitation for bids. He said there is a need to take the adequate amount of time to develop the new contract language as the previous contract was not quite perfect.
"It's a fairly significant contract," Almeter said. "It takes some care in crafting the terms of that kind of agreement."
The new contract, he said, should include a spirit of partnership and jointness to benefit both the county and the FBO.